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Sommaire du brevet 2405398 

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Disponibilité de l'Abrégé et des Revendications

L'apparition de différences dans le texte et l'image des Revendications et de l'Abrégé dépend du moment auquel le document est publié. Les textes des Revendications et de l'Abrégé sont affichés :

  • lorsque la demande peut être examinée par le public;
  • lorsque le brevet est émis (délivrance).
(12) Brevet: (11) CA 2405398
(54) Titre français: BALLAST ELECTRONIQUE ET METHODE DE REDRESSEMENT D'ARC
(54) Titre anglais: ELECTRONIC BALLAST AND METHOD FOR ARC STRAIGHTENING
Statut: Réputé périmé
Données bibliographiques
(51) Classification internationale des brevets (CIB):
  • H05B 41/26 (2006.01)
  • H05B 41/292 (2006.01)
(72) Inventeurs :
  • DUONG, CANH CONG (Etats-Unis d'Amérique)
  • FIORELLO, RONALD (Etats-Unis d'Amérique)
(73) Titulaires :
  • OSRAM SYLVANIA INC. (Etats-Unis d'Amérique)
(71) Demandeurs :
  • OSRAM SYLVANIA INC. (Etats-Unis d'Amérique)
(74) Agent: FETHERSTONHAUGH & CO.
(74) Co-agent:
(45) Délivré: 2009-03-24
(22) Date de dépôt: 2002-09-26
(41) Mise à la disponibilité du public: 2003-04-23
Requête d'examen: 2007-09-24
Licence disponible: S.O.
(25) Langue des documents déposés: Anglais

Traité de coopération en matière de brevets (PCT): Non

(30) Données de priorité de la demande:
Numéro de la demande Pays / territoire Date
10/002,916 Etats-Unis d'Amérique 2001-10-23

Abrégés

Abrégé français

Méthode et appareil pour commander un ballast doté d'un convertisseur cc-cc comprenant deux transistors à effet de champ MOS agissant comme interrupteurs et reliant alternativement une source d'alimentation en courant continu à un transformateur de puissance. Une sortie du transformateur de puissance est reliée à un onduleur faisant fonctionner la lampe. Les deux transistors à effet de champ MOS du convertisseur cc-cc s'ouvrent et se ferment à une fréquence passant de manière répétée d'une fréquence minimale à une fréquence maximale prédéterminées. Un élément de rétroaction à microcontrôleur détermine la consommation d'énergie instantanée de la lampe et régule les transistors à effet de champ MOS au moyen d'un modulateur d'impulsions en largeur pour adapter continuellement un facteur de charge, ce qui permet aux grilles des transistors à effet de champ MOS de maintenir un niveau de consommation d'énergie voulu.


Abrégé anglais

A method and apparatus for controlling a lamp ballast having a DC-DC converter with first and second MOSFETs acting as switches alternately connecting a DC power source to a power transformer, with an output of the power transformer being connected to a DC-AC inverter driving the lamp. The first and second MOSFETs in the DC-DC converter are alternately opened and closed at a frequency that is swept repeatedly between predetermined minimum and maximum frequencies. A microcontroller-based feedback element determines instantaneous power consumption by the lamp and controls the MOSFETs through a pulse width modulator to continuously adjust a duty cycle of signals driving gates of the MOSFETs to maintain a desired level of power consumption.

Revendications

Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.



-19-
CLAIMS
We Claim:

1. A method of controlling a lamp ballast which includes a DC-DC
converter with first and second switches alternately connecting a DC power
source to a
power transformer, with an output of the power transformer being connected to
a DC-AC
inverter driving the lamp, the method comprising the steps of:
alternately closing the first and second switches in the DC-DC converter at
a frequency which is swept repeatedly between predetermined minimum and
maximum
frequencies;
determining a present level of power consumption by the lamp; and
controlling the first and second switches so that a ratio of a time during
which either of the first and second switches is closed to a length of a cycle
of opening
and closing the first and second switches is adjusted based on the determined
present
level of power consumption.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the present
level of power consumption by the lamp is performed by sensing a lamp voltage
and a
lamp current and calculating the power consumption by multiplying the lamp
voltage by
the lamp current.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determination of the present level
of power consumption is performed by a logic device that produces a power
control
signal based on the calculated power consumption, the first and second
switches being
controlled by a pulse width modulator (PWM) which receives as an input the
power
control signal and generates pulse width modulated signals controlling
operation of the
first and second switches.


-20-
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the microcontroller further generates a
variable frequency signal received as an input by the PWM, a frequency of the
variable
frequency signal being swept repeatedly between the predetermined minimum and
maximum frequencies, the PWM controlling a frequency of the pulse width
modulated
signals based on the variable frequency signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the PWM additionally receives as an
input a primary sensed current signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the PWM internally compares the
power control signal to a power reference signal to produce an error signal,
the PWM
comparing the primary sensed current signal to the error signal to control a
duty cycle of
the pulse width modulated signals.

7. A lamp ballast comprising:
a DC-DC converter producing a lamp voltage, the DC-DC converter
comprising first and second switches controlled by a switch control device;
an AC inverter receiving as an input the lamp voltage and producing as an
output an AC voltage;
a lamp connector electrically connected to the output of the AC inverter;
and
a control section receiving as inputs a sensed voltage and a sensed current
from the DC-DC converter and producing as an output a power control signal, a
level of
the power control signal being based on a product of the sensed voltage and
the sensed
current;


-21-
wherein the switch control device receives as an input the power control
signal, and based on the level of the power control signal the switch control
device
adjusts timing of operation of the first and second switches.

8. The lamp ballast of claim 7, wherein the switch control device further
receives as an input a primary sensed current signal from the DC-DC converter,
and a
variable frequency signal from the control section whose frequency is
repeatedly swept
between a fixed minimum frequency and a fixed maximum frequency, the switch
control
device being constructed to control timing of operation of the first and
second switches
by adjusting a duty cycle of each of first and second switch control signals
generated by
the switch control device.

9. The lamp ballast of claim 8, wherein the switch control device is a
pulse width modulator (PWM), and wherein the PWM is constructed so that:
an increase in the level of the power control signal tends to cause a
decrease in the duty cycle of the first and second switch control signals; and
an increase in the level of the primary sensed current signal tends to cause
a decrease in the duty cycles of the first and second switch control signals.

10. The lamp ballast of claim 7, wherein the switch control device is a
pulse width modulator (PWM) which further receives as an input a variable
frequency
signal, a frequency of the variable frequency signal being repeatedly swept
between a
minimum frequency and a maximum frequency.


-22-
11. The lamp ballast of claim 10, wherein the PWM further receives as an
input a primary sensed current signal, the PWM being constructed to compare
the power
control signal to a power reference signal to produce a error signal, the PWM
comparing
the primary sensed current signal to the error signal to control a duty cycle
of each of first
and second switch control signals generated by the PWM.

12. The lamp ballast of claim 11, wherein the first and second switches
are power MOSFETs, the first and second switch control signals being connected
to a
gate drive transformer, the gate drive transformer producing as outputs first
and second
gate drive signals connected to gates of the first and second power MOSFETs,
respectively.

13. The lamp ballast of claim 12, wherein the lamp voltage comprises a
DC component and an AC ripple, an amplitude of the AC ripple being within a
range of
25% to 30% of the DC component.

14. The lamp ballast of claim 7, wherein the lamp voltage comprises a DC
component and an AC ripple, an amplitude of the AC ripple being within a range
of 25%
to 30% of the DC component.


-23-
15. A lamp ballast comprising:
a DC-DC converter producing a DC lamp voltage, the DC-DC converter
comprising first and second switches controlled by first and second pulse
width
modulated signals generated by a pulse width modulator (PWM), wherein the lamp
voltage includes a ripple;
an AC inverter receiving as an input the lamp voltage and producing as an
output an AC voltage including the ripple of the lamp voltage;
a lamp connector electrically connected to the output of the AC inverter;
and
a control section receiving as inputs a sensed voltage and a sensed current
from the DC-DC converter and producing as an output a power control signal, a
level of
the power control signal being based on a product of the sensed voltage and
the sensed
current, the control section also producing as an output a variable frequency
signal whose
frequency is repeatedly swept between a fixed minimum frequency and a fixed
maximum
frequency;
wherein the PWM receives as inputs a primary sensed current signal, the
power control signal, and the variable frequency signal, the PWM generating
the first and
second pulse width modulated signals based on a frequency of the variable
frequency
signal, the PWM being configured to compare the power control signal to a
power
reference signal to produce an error signal, the PWM comparing the primary
sensed
current signal to the error signal to control a duty cycle of each of first
and second pulse
width modulated signals.

16. The lamp ballast of claim 15, wherein the amplitude of the ripple and
the minimum and maximum frequencies of the variable frequency signal are
selected so
that during operation of the lamp, an arc produced within the lamp is
maintained without
making contact with a wall of a discharge vessel of the lamp.


-24-
17. The lamp ballast of claim 16, wherein the amplitude of the ripple is
within a range of 25% to 30% of an amplitude of the DC component of the lamp
voltage.
18. A lamp ballast comprising:
a DC-DC converter producing a lamp voltage;
an AC inverter receiving as an input the lamp voltage and producing as an
output an AC voltage;
a lamp connector electrically connected to the output of the AC inverter;
a means for sensing lamp voltage;
a means for sensing lamp current;
a means for calculating present power consumption based on the sensed
lamp current and the sensed lamp voltage;
a means for generating a variable frequency signal whose frequency is
repeatedly swept between a fixed minimum frequency and a fixed maximum
frequency;
a means for switching an input to the DC-DC converter;
a means for determining a primary current of the lamp; and
a means for controlling the means for switching based on the variable
frequency signal, the calculated current power consumption, and the primary
current.

19. The lamp ballast of claim 18, wherein the means for controlling is a
pulse width modulator (PWM) producing as outputs first and second pulse width
modulated switch control signals, the PWM being constructed so that:
an increase in the primary current of the lamp tends to decrease a duty
cycle of each of the first and second switch control signals; and
an increase in the calculated present power consumption tends to decrease
the duty cycles of the first and second switch control signals.

Description

Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.



CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -1- PATENT APPLICATION
ELECTRONIC BALLAST AND METHOD FOR ARC STRAIGHTENING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electronic ballast and a method for
providing arc straightening to a discharge lamp. The invention may be
particularly useful
in connection with high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps powered from a
universal input
and/or a 277 V AC line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of ballasts for HID lamps, it is known that operating at
relatively high frequencies can produce any number of advantages including
decreases in
the size and weight of the ballast, as well as increases in lamp efficacy. A
significant
problem of high frequency ballasts is the acoustic resonance often introduced
by the use
of such a system, and the arc instabilities that can result therefrom.
The prior art illustrates a number of approaches to overcoming these
problems. Among these, U.S. patent number 5,623,187 to Caldiera et al.
describes one
known approach. As described in this reference, arc instabilities are
accompanied by
deformations in the arc which change the arc's length, which in turn is known
to vary the
conductance or impedance of the operating lamp. The Caldiera et al. reference
also
teaches the necessity of adjusting the modulation frequency of the signals
sent to the
lamp in order to minimize the effects of acoustic resonance.


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -2- PATENT APPLICATION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a universal input voltage
electronic ballast to reliably regulate lamp power.
It is a further object of the invention to provide are straightening for
mercury-free HID lamps to improve the luminous efficiency of such lamps.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a microprocessor
control circuit arrangement for programmable start of a universal voltage
electronic
ballast having an active power factor corrector and a DC-AC converter.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a microprocessor
control circuit arrangement for programmable start of a universal voltage
ballast having
an inrush current limit circuit, an active power factor corrector and a DC-AC
inverter.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a microprocessor
control circuit arrangement for instantaneous power regulation and
programmable start of
universal voltage ballast having an inrush current limit circuit, an active
power factor
corrector, and a DC-AC inverter.
The present invention includes an improved method and apparatus for
controlling the ballast for an HID lamp so that arc straightening may be
obtained through
a simplified approach based on power consumption.
The method provides for controlling a lamp ballast which includes a DC-
DC converter with first and second switches which alternately connect an input
side of
the DC-DC converter to a high-voltage DC power source and ground, so as to
drive a
power transformer, with an output of the power transformer being connected to
a DC-AC
inverter which in turn drives the lamp.
The method includes the steps of alternately closing the first and second
switches at a frequency which is swept repeatedly between predetermined
minimum and
maximum frequencies, determining a present level of power consumption by the
lamp,
and controlling the first and second switches so that a ratio of the time
during which


CA 02405398 2008-11-05

-3-
either of the switches is closed compared to a length of the cycle of opening
and closing
such switches is adjusted based on the determined present level of power
consumption.
In order to determine the present level of power consumption, it is possible
to sense the lamp voltage and the lamp current and multiply the two values.
The results of
this multiplication can be used to generate a power control signal whose level
reflects the
calculated power consumption. The power control signal can be provided to a
pulse width
modulator (PWM) which in turn controls a duty cycle of generated pulse width
modulated
signals that the PWM uses to drive the switches. The repetition rate at which
the PWM
switches the pulse width modulated signals may be determined by a variable
frequency
signal which is repeatedly swept between a predetermined minimum and
predetermined
maximum frequency. The PWM may receive as a further input a signal whose level
is
indicative of sensed primary current of the ballast.
The PWM therefore may receive as inputs the variable frequency signal, a
power control signal indicative of power consumed by the lamp, and a sensed
primary
current signal. The nature of operation of the PWM is such that an increase in
the level of
either of the power control signal and the sensed primary current signal will
tend to
decrease the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated outputs of the PWM used
to drive
the switches. Similarly, an increase in the frequency of the swept frequency
signal will
tend to decrease the duty cycles.
The PWM may be designed so that the received power control signal is
internally compared to a power reference signal to produce an error signal,
with the error
signal being compared to the sensed primary current signal to ultimately
control be duty
cycles of the PWM outputs used to control the switches. The switches may be
power
MOSFETs or IGBT switches, with the pulse width modulated outputs of the PWM
being
used to drive a gate drive transformer. The gate drive transformer in turn
produces as
outputs gate drive signals connected to the gates of the power MOSFETs.
Thus, in one aspect there is provided a method of controlling a lamp ballast
which includes a DC-DC converter with first and second switches alternately
connecting a
DC power source to a power transformer, with an output of the power
transformer being
connected to a DC-AC inverter driving the lamp, the method comprising the
steps o
alternately closing the first and second switches in the DC-DC converter at a
frequency


CA 02405398 2008-11-05
-3a-

which is swept repeatedly between predetermined minimum and maximum
frequencies;
determining a present level of power consumption by the lamp; and controlling
the first
and second switches so that a ratio of a time during which either of the first
and second
switches is closed to a length of a cycle of opening and closing the first and
second
switches is adjusted based on the determined present level of power
consumption.
In another aspect, there is provided a lamp ballast comprising: a DC-DC
converter producing a lamp voltage, the DC-DC converter comprising first and
second
switches controlled by a switch control device; an AC inverter receiving as an
input the
lamp voltage and producing as an output an AC voltage; a lamp connector
electrically
connected to the output of the AC inverter; and a control section receiving as
inputs a
sensed voltage and a sensed current from the DC-DC converter and producing as
an output
a power control signal, a level of the power control signal being based on a
product of the
sensed voltage and the sensed current; wherein the switch control device
receives as an
input the power control signal, and based on the level of the power control
signal the
switch control device adjusts timing of operation of the first and second
switches.
In another aspect, there is provided a lamp ballast comprising: a DC-DC
converter producing a DC lamp voltage, the DC-DC converter comprising first
and second
switches controlled by first and second pulse width modulated signals
generated by a pulse
width modulator (PWM), wherein the lamp voltage includes a ripple; an AC
inverter
receiving as an input the lamp voltage and producing as an output an AC
voltage including
the ripple of the lamp voltage; a lamp connector electrically connected to the
output of the
AC inverter; and a control section receiving as inputs a sensed voltage and a
sensed
current from the DC-DC converter and producing as an output a power control
signal, a
level of the power control signal being based on a product of the sensed
voltage and the
sensed current, the control section also producing as an output a variable
frequency signal
whose frequency is repeatedly swept between a fixed minimum frequency and a
fixed
maximum frequency; wherein the PWM receives as inputs a primary sensed current
signal, the power control signal, and the variable frequency signal, the PWM
generating
the first and second pulse width modulated signals based on a frequency of the
variable
frequency signal, the PWM being configured to compare the power control signal
to a
power reference signal to produce an error signal, the PWM comparing the
primary sensed


CA 02405398 2008-11-05

-3b-
current signal to the error signal to control a duty cycle of each of first
and second pulse
width modulated signals.
In another aspect, there is provided a lamp ballast comprising: a DC-DC
converter producing a lamp voltage; an AC inverter receiving as an input the
lamp voltage
and producing as an output an AC voltage; a lamp connector electrically
connected to the
output of the AC inverter; a means for sensing lamp voltage; a means for
sensing lamp
current; a means for calculating present power consumption based on the sensed
lamp
current and the sensed lamp voltage; a means for generating a variable
frequency signal
whose frequency is repeatedly swept between a fixed minimum frequency and a
fixed
maximum frequency; a means for switching an input to the DC-DC converter; a
means for
determining a primary current of the lamp; and a means for controlling the
means for
switching based on the variable frequency signal, the calculated current power
consumption, and the primary current.


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -4- PATENT APPLICATION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in connection with the attached
drawing figures, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of the ballast;
Figure 2 is a circuit drawing of details of the DC-DC power converter;
Figure 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating details of the gate drive
transformer;
Figure 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating details of the power transformer;
Figure 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating details of the current sense
transformer;
Figure 6 is a block diagram showing inputs and outputs of the
microcontroller;
Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating details of the circuits which drive inputs
and outputs of the microcontroller;
Figure 8 is a waveform drawing illustrating the OUTA and OUTB outputs
of the pulse width modulator;
Figure 9 is a waveform drawing of the sensed primary current signal
according to the present invention;
Figure 10 is an illustration of sample voltage and current measured at the
lamp being operated by a ballast according to the present invention;
Figure 11 is a waveform diagram showing details of ripple on the voltage
waveform illustrated in Figure 10; and
Figures 12a-12e illustrate a flowchart showing steps executed by the
microcontroller according to the ballast of the present invention.


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -5- PATENT APPLICATION
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in Figure 1, the ballast may include an electromagnetic
interference (EMI) filter 20, which is connected sequentially to a bridge
rectifier 21, a
power factor corrector 22, and a half bridge DC-DC power converter 23. Also
connected
to the EMI filter 20 is a low voltage power supply 24 used to generate the
appropriate
power levels to supply the various logic devices in the ballast. Among the
logic devices
in the ballast is microcontroller 25 which is used to control the half bridge
DC-DC power
converter 23 and the full bridge DC-AC inverter 26. The full bridge DC-AC
inverter is
supplied by the half bridge power converter 23 and in turn ultimately drives
the lamp 27.
Details of the half bridge DC-DC converter 23 are illustrated in Figure 2.
The half bridge DC-DC converter 23 is driven by a high-voltage DC bus produced
by
power factor corrector 22. The DC-DC converter 23 includes a pulse width
modulator
(PWM) 30, which receives a sweep signal at its SYNC input. A power control
signal is
received at an ERR- input, a power reference signal is received at an ERR+
input, a
sensed primary current signal is received at a CS+ input, and a shutdown
signal is
received at an SD input.
The PWM 30 may drive a COMP output signal, which may in turn be fed
back to the power control signal through a parallel connection of resistor 101
and
capacitor 102 to provide frequency compensation for loop stability. PWM 30
also drives
pulse width modulated outputs OUTA and OUTB, which are received as inputs by
gate
drive transformer 31.
The gate drive transformer 31 in turn drives the gates of power MOSFETs
103 and 104. The high-voltage DC bus is also connected to power transformer
32, which
has an input tied to a point in the circuit connected to both power MOSFETs
103 and
104. Also connected to the power transformer 32 is current sense transformer
33.
Current sense transformer 33 generates the sensed primary current signal
received as an
input by the PWM 30.


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -6- PATENT APPLICATION
Power transformer 32 provides a rectified output, which is used to
generate the modulated lamp voltage. The rectified output of power transformer
32 is
connected to the lamp voltage return through a series connection of resistor
105 and
capacitor 106, which operate as a snubber. An inductor 107 together with
capacitor 108
are connected in series between the rectified output of the power transformer
32 and the
lamp voltage return. Together, inductor 107 and capacitor 108 operate as a low
pass
filter. Values of 107 and 108 are selected so as to provide only minimal
filtering.
Resistors 109 and 110 are connected in parallel to capacitor 108 to form a
voltage divider. A point between resistors 109 and 110 is connected to the
power control
signal through resistor 111. Also parallel to capacitor 108 is a series
arrangement of
resistors 112 and 113. Together, resistors 112 and 113 operate as a voltage
divider to
produce a voltage sense signal from a point between the two resistors.
Resistor 114 is
connected to the lamp voltage return and is used to generate a current sense
signal.
Details of the gate drive transformer 31 are illustrated in Figure 3. The
signals driven by the OUTA and OUTB lines of the PWM 30 are connected to
respective
terminals of a primary 116 winding of the transformer 115. Across secondary
winding
117 is a series arrangement of resistor 119 and capacitor 120, as well as a
series
arrangement of zener diode 121 and diode 122, connected anode-to-anode.
Resistor 123
is connected between the cathode of the zener diode 121 and the gate of power
MOSFET
103. Resistor 124 is connected between the gate of power MOSFET 103 and the
cathode
of diode 122. Between tertiary winding 118 and power MOSFET 104, resistor 125
and
capacitor 126 are arranged in the same manner as are resistors 119 and
capacitor 120.
Zener diode 127 and diode 128 are arranged corresponding to zener diode 121
and diode
122. Resistors 129 and 130 correspond to resistors 123 and 124.
Details of power transformer 32 are illustrated in Figure 4. Capacitor 131
and resistor 132 are arranged in series across the source and drain of power
MOSFET
103. Diode 133 is also connected in parallel with power MOSFET 103. Capacitor
134,
resistor 135, and diode 136 are arr=anged in connection with power MOSFET 104
in a


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -7- PATENT APPLICATION
manner corresponding to capacitor 131, resistor 132, and diode 133. Capacitor
137,
resistor 138, and capacitor 139 are connected in parallel with one another
between the
high-voltage DC bus and a center tap of primary winding 140 of transformer
141. The
center tap of primary winding 140 is connected through capacitor 141 to the
high-voltage
return. The center tap of winding 141 is also connected to a parallel
combination of
resistor 142 and capacitor 143, which are in turn connected through a parallel
arrangement of resistor 144 and a MOSFET 145 to the high-voltage return. The
gate of
MOSFET 145 is connected through capacitor 147 to the high-voltage return, and
is
connected to Vcc PFC control generated as a DC voltage from the output of
bridge
rectifier 21. Together, MOSFET 145 and resistor 144 form an inrush current
limiter.
The anode of a diode 148 is connected to the high-voltage return, and a
cathode of diode 148 is connected to both a first terminal of primary winding
140 and an
anode of diode 149. The cathode of diode 149 is connected to the high-voltage
DC bus.
The second terminal of primary winding 140 of transformer 141 provides a first
input to
the current sense transformer 33. A point between diodes 133 and 136 provides
a second
input to the current sense transformer 33. The transformer 141 includes a
secondary
winding 150, a first terminal of which is connected to the anode of diode 151.
The
second terminal of winding 150 is connected to the anode of diode 152. The
cathodes of
diodes 151 and 152 are connected together and provide the power transformer
rectified
output. A center tap of secondary winding 150 is connected to the lamp voltage
return, as
is connected through capacitor 190 to the high-voltage return.

Figure 5 illustrates details of the current sense transformer 33.
Transformer 153 includes a primary winding 154 and a secondary winding 155. A
first
terminal 156 of primary winding 154 is connected to diodes 136 and 133
illustrated in
Figure 4. Second terminal 157 of primary winding 154 is connected to
transformer 141
also illustrated in Figure 4. The terminals of secondary winding 155 are
connected to the
anodes of diodes 158 and 159, respectively. The cathodes of diodes 158 and 159
are


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -8- PATENT APPLICATION
connected together to provide a rectified output which produces the sensed
primary
current signal.
The modulated lamp voltage provided by the power transformer 32 is
supplied to the full bridge DC-AC inverter 26. Full bridge inverter 26
operates in a
known manner to provide the necessary AC signal to drive the lamp 27.
Figure 6 illustrates an overview of microcontroller 25. As shown, the
microcontroller receives as inputs the voltage sense and current sense signals
generated
by the circuitry illustrated in Figure 2. The microcontroller generates the
outputs
shutdown, power reference, sweep, and power control.
Figure 7 illustrates details of the microcontroller 25. The circuitry
illustrated in Figure 2 generates the voltage sense signal used by the
microcontroller 25.
The voltage sense line is connected through resistor 160 to the noninverting
input of
operational amplifier 161. The noninverting input is also connected through a
parallel
combination of capacitor 162 and resistor 163 to ground. The inverting input
is
connected through resistor 164 to ground. The inverting input is also
connected to a
parallel combination of resistor 165 and capacitor 166 to the output of
operational
amplifier 161, forming a differential voltage amplifier. The output of
operational
amplifier 161 is then connected through resistor 167 to an input of
microcontroller 25.
The current sense line is connected through resistor 168 to the
noninverting input of operational amplifier 169. The noninverting input is
also connected
through a parallel combination of capacitor 170 and resistor 171 to ground.
The inverting
input of operational amplifier 169 is connected through resistor 172 to
ground. The
inverting input is also connected through a parallel combination of capacitor
173 and
resistor 174 to the output of operational amplifier 169, forming a
differential voltage
amplifier. The output of operational amplifier 169 is connected through
resistor 175 to
an input of microcontroller 25.
The power control signal generated by the microcontroller 25 is the output
of a circuit in which an output pin of microcontroller 25 is connected through
resistor 176
-- --- - -- -----


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -9- PATENT APPLICATION
to the noninverting input of operational amplifier 177. The noninverting input
is also
connected through capacitor 178 to ground, forming a low pass filter. The
inverting input
of the operational amplifier 177 is connected to the output of the operational
amplifier,
forming a buffer amplifier. The operational amplifier 177 then generates the
power
control signal through resistor 181.
Microcontroller 25 generates the sweep signal by driving an output pin of
the microcontroller through resistor 182 to the base of transistor 183. The
collector of
transistor 183 is connected to the 5V power supply through resistor 184 and is
also
connected to the base of transistor 185. The emitters of transistors 183 and
185 are
connected together and also to ground. The collector of transistor 185 is
connected
through resistor 186 to the 5V power supply. The collector of transistor 185
also
generates the sweep signal. This circuit is designed to provide sufficient
current to the
SYNC pin of the PWM.
The shutdown and power reference signals may be generated directly by
the microcontroller 25 and are connected to PWM 30.
Operation of the present invention will now be described in connection
with the various drawing figures.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate details of the DC-DC converter 23. As
illustrated in both figures, power MOSFETs 103 and 104 are connected
respectively to
the high-voltage DC bus and the high-voltage return. A point between the two
MOSFETs is connected to power transformer 32. Viewing MOSFETs 103 and 104 as
switches, by alternately closing the two switches, an AC signal is presented
to the input
of power transformer 32. Power transformer 32 uses this AC input to generate a
rectified
output which is then minimally filtered and supplied to be DC-AC inverter.
Throughout any single period of operation of MOSFETs 103 and 104,
there are no times when both MOSFETs are turned on. There are, however, times
when
neither of the two MOSFETs is turned on. To a significant extent, operation of
the lamp
is controlled by the timings of the signals used to drive the gates of MOSFETs
103 and


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -10- PATENT APPLICATION
104. The frequency of the pulse train driving the respective gates as well as
the duty
cycle of such pulses provide a mechanism for controlling how much power the
lamp
consumes.
Figure 8 illustrates a waveform representation of the signals OUTA and
OUTB. Each positive pulse results in a period during which one of MOSFETs 103
and
104 is enabled. T1 represents one complete cycle of the OUTA/OUTB pulse train
sequence. TA and TB are the durations of the OUTA and OUTB pulses,
respectively.
PWM 30 is designed to operate such that T1 matches the period of the
sweep signal received at the SYNC input. This controls the overall frequency
of OUTA
and OUTB.
For the purposes of the present description, the duty cycle of OUTA and
OUTB collectively is considered to be the sum of TA and TB with respect to TI.
The
duty cycle is controlled by the signals seen at the CS+, ERR-, and ERR+ inputs
of PWM
30. PWM 30 compares the levels of the power reference signal received at input
ERR+
and the power control signal received at input ERR- to produce an error signal
at the
COMP output. internally, PWM 30 compares the error signal to the level of the
sensed
primary current signal present at the CS+ input. The result of this comparison
determines
the duty cycle of the PWM outputs. The manner in which the present lamp
ballast
controls the DC-DC converter will now be discussed, first in connection with
startup
operation.
HID lamps are known to operate in two very distinct modes of operation,
namely startup and steady state. When the lamp is cold, it requires a high
start voltage,
for instance 8,000 to 10,000 volts RMS. This high voltage creates a high
intensity
electrical field across the electrodes of the lamp, which initiates the
discharge. As result,
input power to the lamp during ignition is 5-10 times higher than the rated
steady state
lamp power. In any case, the lamp starting voltage depends on the inverter
input voltage.
For this reason, the manner in which the DC bus voltage is generated is
critical to ensure
that it is maintained within a known range as long as possible before the lamp
ignites.


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -11- PATENT APPLICATION
Through the circuitry illustrated in Figure 7, microcontroller 25 generates
the sweep signal. The sweep signal is received at the SYNC input of PWM 30.
Microcontroller 25 also generates the power reference signal which, depending
upon the
present mode of operation of the lamp ballast, is either at a startup level or
at a steady
state level. The power reference signal is received by the PWM 30 at the ERR+
input.
While the lamp is starting up, the power reference signal is driven by
microcontroller 25 as a series of pulses. As an example, the startup sequence
may
comprise a series of ten repetitions of alternating 2.5 second periods of a 5V
level and a
OV level. Also during the startup sequence, microcontroller 25 drives the
sweep signal at
a frequency higher than is used during normal steady state operation of the
lamp. This
reduces the likelihood of magnetic saturation, and allows for a smaller
magnetic core
area.
For rapid lamp starting, it is required to provide an optimized DC bus
voltage range for as long as possible to reduce the lamp starting interval.
The shorter this
interval is, the lower the stress imposed on ballast components. However,
excessive start
voltage caused by the DC bus voltage above this optimized range may saturate
magnetic
components and the resonant inductor in the inverter, resulting in high
current and
voltage stresses in inverter components. Therefore, the DC bus voltage range
during
inverter starting has to be optimized for worst case conditions with a
programmed start
sequence. This will help to improve lamp performance and prolong the life of
the ballast.
Microcontroller 25 is programmed to generate the sweep signal as a
frequency swept output. The frequency of the sweep signal repeatedly traverses
a range
between a predetermined maximum frequency and a predetermined minimum
frequency.
The upper and lower frequency limits are programmable to accommodate different
lamp
circuits. In one embodiment, the upper and lower limits of frequency are 60
kHz and 40
kHz, respectively. It is noted that a frequency of the resulting ripple in the
voltage
driving the lamp is twice the frequency of the sweep signal. The time for one
complete
cycle between minimum and maximum frequency may be 1 to 2 ms. The frequency
---------------


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -12- PATENT APPLICATION
modulation range and rate are determined by the arc tube dimensions, density
of the gas
fill, pressure, and other lamp parameters.

The range of frequency of the ripple on the voltage seen by the lamp,
together with the amplitude of such ripple, contribute to the arc-
straightening capabilities
of the ballast. The modulated lamp voltage seen at the output of the low pass
filter in the
DC-DC converter includes both a DC component and an AC ripple. In one
embodiment,
the amplitude of the ripple is 25%-30% of the DC level. The amplitude of the
ripple with
respect to the DC component is determined by the low pass filter which, in the
embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, is implemented with inductor 107 and
capacitor 108.
In one embodiment, the modulated lamp voltage includes a 100 V DC
component and a 30 V ripple, resulting in a ripple between 85 V and 115 V. The
voltage
actually applied to the lamp by the DC-AC inverter would then alternate
between DC
levels of 100 V and -100 V with the same AC ripple superimposed thereon.
The relationship between the amplitude of the ripple as a percentage of the
DC component and the value of the DC component itself is generally linear.
Therefore,
while an embodiment with a 100 V DC component would include 25-30 V of AC
ripple,
an embodiment designed to have a 50 V DC component would have ripple with
amplitude in the range of 6.25 V to 7.5 V.
The microcontroller receives as inputs signals whose levels are indicative
of the sensed voltage and current of the lamp. As illustrated in Figure 2,
these signal are
driven by the circuit supplied with the power transformer rectified output.
Microcontroller 25 is programmed to calculate present power consumption by the
lamp
as a product of the sensed voltage and current. The result of this calculation
is reflected
in the level of the power control signal. Microcontroller 25 could be
implemented in the
form of an 8-bit microprocessor with an internal hardware multiplier.
To some extent, the power control signal represents an averaging of a
level of consumed power over some period of time. From an analog perspective,
the
signal is averaged by the RC combination of resistor 176 and capacitor 178
illustrated in


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -13- PATENT APPLICATION
Figure 7. Additionally, microcontroller 25 itself may be programmed so that
the output
driven to resistor 176 represents an average value over some period.
While the power control signal is generated by microcontroller 25 and the
related circuit illustrated in Figure 7, the level of this signal is further
influenced by its
connection to the circuit that filters the rectified output of the power
transformer. As
illustrated in Figure 2, resistors 109 and 110 provide a voltage divider
between the
modulated lamp voltage and the lamp voltage return. The point between
resistors 109
and 110 is connected to the power control signal through resistor 111. In this
way, the
instantaneous value of the modulated lamp voltage may have an immediate effect
on the
level of the power control signal.
Microcontroller 25 also generates the power reference signal. As
described above, this signal may comprise a pulse train while the lamp is
starting up.
During steady state operation, the power reference signal may be held at a
constant level.
In one embodiment, this level is approximately 1.1 V.
PWM 30 receives the power control signal at its ERR- input and compares
the level of this signal to the level of the power reference signal received
at PWM 30's
ERR+ input, using an error amplifier internal to the PWM. The resulting error
output of
the error amplifier may be output at the COMP output. Internally, PWM 30
compares the
result of the calculated error with the level of the sensed primary current
signal received
at the CS+ input.
The sensed primary current signal is generated by current sense
transformer 33 illustrated schematically in Figures 2 and 4 and in detail in
Figure 5.
Current sense transformer 33 is connected to the primary winding of
transformer 141 of
power transformer element 32 and provides a rectified output through diodes
158 and
159. The resulting sensed primary current signal will be a square wave with a
ramp
superimposed on the high level portions of the square wave, as illustrated in
the example
waveform of Figure 9. The ramp portion on the wave is a result of the
magnetizing
current of transformer 141 of power transformer element 32 plus load current.


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -14- PATENT APPLICATION
Within PWM 30, the level of the sensed primary current signal is
compared to the error signal driven by the error amplifier at the COMP output.
As
illustrated in Figure 9, when the level of the ramp portion of the sensed
primary current
signal exceeds the calculated error level at time Toff, whichever of OUTA and
OUTB is
active at that time is driven inactive to shut off the corresponding one of
MOSFETs 103
and 104.
Effectively, the error voltage present at the COMP output represents a
current command signal and the sensed primary current is the signal output by
the current
transformer. The PWM compares these two signals. For example, as the error
voltage at
the COMP output increases the duty cycle is increased, resulting in increased
output
current.
PWM 30 uses the result of comparing the level of the sensed primary
current signal with the calculated error signal to control the duty cycle of
OUTA/OUTB.
Figure 8 illustrates a portion of a train of pulses on OUTA and OUTB. TI, the
time for
one complete cycle of pulses on OUTA and OUTB is determined by the present
frequency of the sweep signal received by PWM 30 at the SYNC input. The
overall duty
cycle, considered as a sum of TA and TB with respect to T1, is controlled by
PWM 30.
In general terms, as the duty cycle of OUTA/OUTB increases, power
MOSFETs 103 and 104 conduct for a greater proportion of the cycle, and the
lamp
consumes more power. With respect to the influence of the sensed primary
current signal
and the power control signal, an increase in the level of either of these
signals, with all
other conditions being equal, will result in a decrease in the duty cycle of
OUTA/OUTB.
In this way, as PWM 30 receives an indication of an increase in power consumed
by the
lamp, the duty cycle is decreased to limit power consumption. Conversely, as a
level of
either of the power control signal and the sensed primary current signal
decreases, the
duty cycle of PWM increases. In this way, the feedback mechanisms provide for
constant power output.


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -15- PATENT APPLICATION
The duty cycle is also influenced by the present value of the sweep signal.
Given that OUTA and OUTB control how frequently and for how long power MOSFETs
103 and 104 provide a connection to high voltage and ground, respectively, the
rectified
output of power transformer element 32 has a frequency twice that of the
OUTA/OUTB
pulse train. The rectified output is minimally filtered and supplied to DC-AC
inverter 26
so that a ripple with a frequency twice that of the sweep signal is
superimposed on the
AC signal driving the lamp.
With all other variables remaining constant, as the frequency of the sweep
signal decreases, and necessarily the frequency of the ripple on the AC signal
driving the
lamp decreases proportionally, the duty cycle of OUTA/OUTB remains effectively
constant.
The frequency of the sweep signal also affects the amplitude of the ripple
on the AC signal which drives the lamp. As the frequency increases, the
amplitude of the
ripple decreases. The converse is also true, so that a decrease in the
frequency causes an
increase in the amplitude of the ripple.
The ripple present on the AC line which drives the lamp is an important
element of the ability of the present invention to perform arc straightening.
It has been
discovered that it is possible to successfully achieve arc straightening by
providing for a
significant amount of ripple on the modulated lamp voltage, with the frequency
of such
ripple swept between predetermined minimum and maximum frequencies at a
predetermined rate of sweep. These parameters of minimum and maximum sweep and
rate of sweep can be determined in connection with characteristics of the lamp
and can be
designed so as to account for aging characteristics of the lamp.
For this reason, the characteristics can be encoded through the instructions
executed by microcontroller 25 at the time of manufacture, with the ballast
designed so
that it is not necessary to have dynamic adjustment of the sweep parameters,
as suggested
by such references as Caldiera et al. discussed above. The hardware of the
ballast is
applicable to a wide range of lamps and conditions, with differences in
software driving


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -16- PATENT APPLICATION
microcontroller accommodating differences in lamps. Further, the ballast could
be
designed such that the software could be updated to account for changes in
lamp
characteristics or applications.
Figure 10 illustrates the voltage and current measured at the lamp as
provided by DC-AC inverter 26 utilizing the ballast of the present invention.
The upper
trace is voltage on a scale of 50 V/division. The voltage seen at the lamp is
approximately 210 V peak-to-peak with a ripple of approximately 30V. The lower
trace
is current measured at the lamp, shown at 5 A/division.
Figure 11 shows a waveform of the voltage illustrated in Figure 10, but on
a 50 V/division scale. In the illustrated range, the frequency of the ripple
is
approximately 50 kHz.
Overall operation of microcontroller 25 is illustrated in the flow chart of
Figures 12a through 12e. as shown in Figure 12a, microcontroller 25 is
initialized and
begins the startup routine. This includes toggling the power reference and
shutdown
pins.
Continuing with the portion of the flow chart illustrated in Figure 12b,
microcontroller 25 measures lamp current. As described above, this measurement
is
performed by sampling the level of the signal present at the input of
microcontroller 25
connected to the current sense signal. At the following decision block,
microcontroller
25 determines whether the measured current is greater than a minimum value,
represented as Imin. If the measured current is not greater than the minimum,
a
previously initialized counter is incremented and tested to determine whether
is has
reached a predetermined threshold. In the illustrated embodiment, this
threshold is ten.
The threshold allows for a number of iterations of the current check sequence
to allow the
measured current value to come into an acceptable range, so that if the limit
has not yet
been reached, the current may be checked again. Once the maximum number of
tests of
the current value has been reached and the measured current is still not
greater than Imin,
the shutdown pin is set to its active level. This sets the shutdown signal
generated by


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -17- PATENT APPLICATION
microcontroller 25 to a level which is received by PWM 30 at its SD input,
causing PWM
30 to cease generating pulses on OUTA and OUTB.
Once the current check loop has been exited by sensing a current at least
as great as Imin, microcontroller 25 begins the power regulation frequency
sweep/system
status loop. Microcontroller 25 measures lamp voltage and current by sampling
the
levels of the signals at the inputs of microcontroller 25 which are driven by
the voltage
sense and current sense signals. Microcontroller 25 then calculates the
present level of
power consumption by multiplying the measured voltage and current levels.
Based on
the calculated power level, microcontroller 25 sets its output to update the
level of the
power control signal, which is received by PWM 30.
Microcontroller 25 then begins the increment/decrement frequency sweep.
Microcontroller 25 checks whether a variable freqsweep is set to decrement or
increment.
If set to increment, microcontroller 25 increments the frequency, checks to
see whether it
is at its upper limit, and if so flips the value of freqsweep to decrement. If
not yet at the
limit, the execution path continues to the steps illustrated in Figure 12d. If
freqsweep
was originally determined to be set to decrement, the frequency is decremented
and
checked to determine whether the frequency is at its lower limit. If so, the
value of
freqsweep is flipped to increment.
Beginning with Figure 12d, microcontroller 25 begins a system status
check by sequentially checking whether each of the measured voltage and the
measured
current is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum value and greater
than or equal
to a predetermined minimum value, as well as whether the calculated power is
less than a
predetermined maximum value. In the event that all of these conditions are
satisfied,
execution proceeds back to the beginning of the power regulation loop. In the
event that
any of these conditions is not met, microcontroller 25 sets the shutdown
signal to cause
PWM 30 to shutdown by ceasing to drive pulses on the OUTA and OUTB lines.


CA 02405398 2002-09-26

Docket No. 00-1-265 -18- PATENT APPLICATION
While the present invention has been described in connection with
particular embodiments, it is to be understood that variations of the details
described
above are known to those of skill in the art, and are furthermore considered
to be within
the scope of the following claims.

Dessin représentatif
Une figure unique qui représente un dessin illustrant l'invention.
États administratifs

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États administratifs

Titre Date
Date de délivrance prévu 2009-03-24
(22) Dépôt 2002-09-26
(41) Mise à la disponibilité du public 2003-04-23
Requête d'examen 2007-09-24
(45) Délivré 2009-03-24
Réputé périmé 2012-09-26

Historique d'abandonnement

Il n'y a pas d'historique d'abandonnement

Historique des paiements

Type de taxes Anniversaire Échéance Montant payé Date payée
Enregistrement de documents 100,00 $ 2002-09-26
Le dépôt d'une demande de brevet 300,00 $ 2002-09-26
Taxe de maintien en état - Demande - nouvelle loi 2 2004-09-27 100,00 $ 2004-09-02
Taxe de maintien en état - Demande - nouvelle loi 3 2005-09-26 100,00 $ 2005-09-01
Taxe de maintien en état - Demande - nouvelle loi 4 2006-09-26 100,00 $ 2006-08-18
Taxe de maintien en état - Demande - nouvelle loi 5 2007-09-26 200,00 $ 2007-08-17
Requête d'examen 800,00 $ 2007-09-24
Taxe de maintien en état - Demande - nouvelle loi 6 2008-09-26 200,00 $ 2008-08-19
Expiré 2019 - Modifications après acceptation 400,00 $ 2008-11-05
Taxe finale 300,00 $ 2008-11-07
Taxe de maintien en état - brevet - nouvelle loi 7 2009-09-28 200,00 $ 2009-08-12
Taxe de maintien en état - brevet - nouvelle loi 8 2010-09-27 200,00 $ 2010-08-20
Enregistrement de documents 100,00 $ 2011-04-15
Titulaires au dossier

Les titulaires actuels et antérieures au dossier sont affichés en ordre alphabétique.

Titulaires actuels au dossier
OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.
Titulaires antérieures au dossier
DUONG, CANH CONG
FIORELLO, RONALD
OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.
Les propriétaires antérieurs qui ne figurent pas dans la liste des « Propriétaires au dossier » apparaîtront dans d'autres documents au dossier.
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Description du
Document 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Nombre de pages   Taille de l'image (Ko) 
Dessins 2002-09-26 15 198
Description 2002-09-26 18 864
Revendications 2002-09-26 6 222
Dessins représentatifs 2003-01-08 1 8
Page couverture 2003-03-28 1 39
Abrégé 2002-09-26 1 20
Description 2008-11-05 20 948
Page couverture 2009-03-04 1 40
Cession 2002-09-26 7 311
Poursuite-Amendment 2007-09-24 1 42
Cession 2011-04-15 10 540
Poursuite-Amendment 2008-11-05 5 190
Correspondance 2008-11-07 1 40
Correspondance 2009-01-14 1 12